University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst at a Glance
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public land-grant research university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system and was founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is also a member of the Five College Consortium, along with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley.
1863
163 years old
$672M
$672 million ( FY 2025) (Amherst only) $1.8 billion (FY2025) (system-wide)
31,318
114 undergrad · 7,299 grad
1,514
1,463 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Official admissions pageNovember 5 (Early Action)
Is University of Massachusetts-Amherst Worth It?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $22,383/year, it's priced 10% above average, while graduates go on to earn $71,631 — 33% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 83% graduation rate means roughly 17% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Massachusetts-Amherst compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 11 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #3 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 71 | $24,953 | $81,698 |
| #5 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 67 | $22,383 | $71,631 |
| #6 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 64 | $24,406 | $74,479 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Massachusetts-Amherst's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
The highest-earning program at University of Massachusetts-Amherst is Computer Science at $75,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $21,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from University of Massachusetts-Amherst earns $75,400, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $21,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $23,250 in median debt vs. $23,250 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,383/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $75,400 | $75,400 | $23,250 |
| Computer Engineering | $75,100 | $75,100 | $26,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,000 | $66,000 | $27,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,400 | $65,400 | $24,980 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $26,636 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $60,300 | $60,300 | $23,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $59,400 | $59,400 | $25,125 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,100 | $57,100 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $55,000 | $55,000 | $22,378 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $53,600 | $53,600 | $20,918 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $50,800 | $50,800 | $23,656 |
| Economics | $49,700 | $49,700 | $23,250 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $47,500 | $47,500 | $26,000 |
| Mathematics | $46,500 | $46,500 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $46,100 | $46,100 | $23,250 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $46,000 | $46,000 | $20,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $45,300 | $45,300 | $26,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $43,200 | $43,200 | $23,250 |
| Chemistry | $43,100 | $43,100 | $27,000 |
| High School/Secondary Diploma Programs | $42,300 | $42,300 | $24,543 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $40,300 | $40,300 | $21,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $39,200 | $39,200 | $21,559 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $39,000 | $39,000 | $23,250 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $38,800 | $38,800 | $24,574 |
| Public Health | $37,600 | $37,600 | $24,938 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $36,800 | $36,800 | $27,000 |
| Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | $36,700 | $36,700 | $24,250 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $36,700 | $36,700 | $24,230 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,200 | $36,200 | $22,500 |
| Education, General | $35,200 | $35,200 | $24,500 |
| Sociology | $34,600 | $34,600 | $23,000 |
| Biology, General | $34,000 | $34,000 | $24,437 |
| Psychology, General | $33,200 | $33,200 | $23,527 |
| Journalism | $33,000 | $33,000 | $24,881 |
| Physics | $32,100 | $32,100 | $27,000 |
| History | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,158 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,700 | $31,700 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,800 | $30,800 | $24,148 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $29,500 | $29,500 | $24,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27,500 | $27,500 | $23,250 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $26,300 | $26,300 | $26,670 |
| Animal Sciences | $26,200 | $26,200 | $23,969 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $25,900 | $25,900 | $22,160 |
| Anthropology | $25,100 | $25,100 | $25,000 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | $24,500 | $24,500 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,900 | $23,900 | $27,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $23,400 | $23,400 | $21,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $22,900 | $22,900 | $22,395 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $21,600 | $21,600 | $23,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Amherst, MA
- Student Body
- 23,671 students
- Admission Rate
- 60%
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,383
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $71,631
- Median Student Debt
- $22,763